Deanna Oliver, DMSc, PA-C has been a certified PA for 14 years, practicing in the areas of geriatrics, emergency medicine, and urgent care. In 2019, she transitioned from clinical practice to full-time academia as the program director of the South University, Savannah, Physician Assistant Program. During her time as program director, Dr. Oliver was an active contributor to urgent curriculum changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, while maintaining the program’s obligations to students and accreditation standards. She also contributed to the Application and Self Study Report for accredited-provisional and accredited-continued applications with the other South University Physician Assistant Programs, through its intradepartmental committees.

Dr. Oliver is a native of Jacksonville, Florida, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Minor in Studio Art from the University of North Florida. She completed the Master of Science in Physician Assistant from the South University, Savannah, Physician Assistant Program in 2009. She was the recipient of the Robert DiBenedetto Student Achievement Award for outstanding academic, clinical, and professional performance during PA training and was inducted into the Pi Alpha National Honor Society for Physician Assistants. In January 2021, she completed the Doctor of Medical Science degree with a Concentration in PA Education from the University of Lynchburg and received a Dual Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Administration and Management and Executive Leadership from the University of Lynchburg in January 2022.

Dr. Oliver is a member of the Physician Assistant Education Association, the Academy of Doctoral PAs, the American Academy of PAs, and the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants. Dr. Oliver has presented at the Physician Assistant Education Association National Forum, the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants CME Symposium, and was a contributing author in A Comprehensive Review for the Certification and Recertification Examination for Physician Assistants.

PA-C, Georgia, United States, Active, 2010, August 2023

PA-C, Florida, United States, Inactive, 2009, January 2024

PA-C, Virginia, United States, Inactive, 2019, August 2025

National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), National, 1086285, 2009-03-26, 2023-12-31

Type: Graduate Certificate, University of Lynchburg, Healthcare Administration and Management, Lynchburg, Virginia, United States, January 2021, December 2021

Type: Graduate Certificate, University of Lynchburg, Executive Leadership, Lynchburg, Virginia, United States, January 2021, December 2021

2023 - Ongoing

Program Director, Administrator I, Doctor of Medical Science Program, Southern California University of Health Sciences, Whittier, California, United States

2019 - 2023

Physician Assistant Program Director, South University, Savannah, Savannah, Georgia, United States

2017 - 2019

Lead Advanced Practice Provider (PAs and NPs), MedStar PromptCare, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

2014 - 2017

Physician Assistant, EmCare - Contract provider organization for emergency departments at Coliseum Medical Center and Northside Hospital, Macon, Georgia, United States

2010 - 2013

Faculty Instructor I, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia, United States

2009 - 2010

Physician Assistant, Yergin Pulmonary Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Physician Assistant, Yergin Pulmonary Clinic April 2009, February 2010

Physician Assistant - Faculty Instructor, Mercer University Department of Family Medicine March 2010, December 2013

Physician Assistant, Coliseum Medical Center/Macon Northside Hospital January 2014, June 2017

Physician Assistant, MedStar PromptCare August 2017, June 2019

Spring 2009 - Ongoing

Pi Alpha National PA Honor Society, 2009, PAEA, Pi Alpha is the national PA honor society organized for the promotion and recognition of both PA students and graduates. Membership signifies inductees’ significant academic achievements and honors them for their leadership, research, community/professional service, and other related activities. The society also encourages a high standard of character and conduct among students and graduates.

Robert DiBenedetto Student Achievement Award, 2009, South University Physician Assistant Program, South University Savannah PA Program. Award chosen by the South University PA Program principal faculty in honor of one of the founding professionals of the South University PA Program. The award recognizes an overall outstanding student in the graduate class for the following attributes: excellence in academics, consistently outstanding performance on clinical rotations, outstanding evaluations of professionalism, dedication to program and profession. March 2009.

Summer 2009 - Summer 2009

Robert DiBenedetto Student Achievement Award, 2009, South University PA Program, South University Savannah PA Program. Award chosen by the South University PA Program principal faculty in honor of one of the founding professionals of the South University PA Program. The award recognizes an overall outstanding student in the graduate class for the following attributes: excellence in academics, consistently outstanding performance on clinical rotations, outstanding evaluations of professionalism, dedication to program and profession. March 2009.

Summer 2009 - Ongoing

American Academy of Physician Assistants/Associates, May 2009

Spring 2010 - Ongoing

Georgia Association of Physician Assistants, February 2010

Summer 2019 - Ongoing

Physician Assistant Education Association, July 2019

Spring 2020 - Ongoing

Academy of Doctoral PAs, April 2020, The Academy of Doctoral PAs is an association of doctorate-trained PAs who are dedicated to progressing the PA profession so that it remains competitive in the healthcare industry.